Charleston, W. Va.— After a rocky start to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament, No. 19 University of Charleston Softball (42-10) advances to the championship after coming out on top in two elimination games today.
UC shut out Davis and Elkins 4-0 in game one and came from behind to defeat Kutztown University 6-3 in game two. Sophomore Raegan West led Charleston's offense, as she went 3-3 on the day with four runs-batted-in (RBI), three runs scored and one walk.
Highlights:
West (3-3, 4 RBIs, 3 runs, 1 walk), Hannah Rose (3-5, 1 run, 3 walks), Isabella Andujar (2-4, 1 RBI, 1 run, 3 walks), Brionna Bowman (2-5, 2 RBIs) and Brittny Ogg (1-1, 1 run)
Game One: 4 UC, 0 D&E
For the sixth time this season, the Golden Eagles have defeated the Senators. Junior Brianna McCown (27-4) went the distance for Charleston and only allowed three hits.
Rose sparked the offense with a triple to right field, while Allysa Lake reached first on a walk and later stole second. With two runners in scoring position, Jeritza Montero plated the first run of the ballgame on a groundout to the third baseman. Like Rose, West tripled to right field, which drove in Lake and Emma Groe, who also reached on a walk. Third baseman Bowman plated the final run of the ballgame on a single to left field, giving the Golden Eagles a 4-0 lead over the Senators.
Game Two: 6 UC, 3 KU
As the visiting team, the Golden Eagles scored first in the second inning after Morgan Hoppe singled up the middle to drive in West. Starting pitcher Danielle Bauer (12-5) shut down the Golden Bears in the first and second inning, but they pulled ahead 3-1 on four hits in the third.
In the top of the fifth, Kutztown called on Haley Garvish to pitch. In game one of regionals, Charleston was able to muster up only two hits against the righty, but that did not shake their confidence. With their season on the line, pinch hitter Brittny Ogg led off the inning with a single. Andujar then cut the deficit to one, as she also singled to centerfield to score Ogg. With two outs and two runners in scoring position, West drove in two on a double to left field to put UC ahead 4-3. Similar to game one, senior Bowman closed out the scoring after she drove in two more for the Golden Eagles.
McCown relieved Bauer in the fourth inning and shut Kutztown down. The junior had another stellar performance, striking out two Golden Bears and allowing only one hit in four innings pitched to pick up the win.
Up Next:
Charleston will face Shippensburg University at 1 p.m. tomorrow to determine the Atlantic Region Championship. UC needs to win game one to force the if necessary game.
